Welcome to the new edition of the Western Sydney Export Centre newsletter. The newsletter serves to inform business in Western Sydney about export issues and events. We plan to email issues on a bi-monthly basis. We hope you find the material helpful, but if you don’t want to be on our list, please scroll to the end of the newsletter to use our unsubscribe facility.

The Western Sydney Export Centre was established in 1993 as a non profit organization sponsored by public and private sector export service providers to assist regional business. Our current sponsors are Austrade, Commonwealth Bank, Australian Quarantine Inspection Service, Australian Business Ltd, NSW Department of State and Regional Development, Australian Institute of Export, The Rocks Practice, Sydney Ports, Powerhouse Logistics, Export Finance Insurance Corporation and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Centre sponsors can provide advice on selecting and research international markets, finding buyers, financing trade, securing payment, documenting export transactions, transporting goods, legal issues and accessing government programs. To find out more about our sponsors’ services visit our website and follow the export links.

To find out what's on for exporters and potential exporters around Western Sydney, see our Events Calendar.

Rob Richardson
Manager, Western Sydney Export Centre

JUNE:
• Export Forum - Business Opportunities Building & construction Dubai, Qatar, & Gulf
• 2005 Gala Presentation Dinner - Western Sydney Industry Awards
• Getting into Export Seminar (Baulkham Hills)
• Seminar Intellectual Property and Export / Launch 2005 Premiers Export Awards
• Getting into Export Seminar (Fairfield)

JULY:
• South & South East Asia Markets Food & Beverage Seminars
• Indonesia Briefing - Asia Business Connection
• Export Market Development Grants - New Applicants Seminar
• Seminar Freight & Western Sydney / Launch 2005 Premiers Export Awards
• Government Assistance to Business Seminar / Launch of 2005 Premier's Export Awards
• Getting into Export Seminar (Parramatta)

AUGUST:
• Manufacturing Week - Free Trade Agreements Seminars

Australian Business Limited, supported by Austrade, is conducting a series of FREE half day workshops to advise you how to become a successful exporter. The workshops will be led by Australian Business Limited’s team of TradeStart Managers. As international trade experts they will take you step by step through the entire export process and address the following key topics:

Who should attend?

Click here to download and view the invitation

For further details on the three seminars due to be held in Castle Hill, Fairfield City and Parramatta, please scroll up to the 'Export Events Forward Calender' section and select the 'complete event details' link to expand.

• Global AUD turnover is approximately $70 billion every day

• The AUD is the 6th most traded currency in the world

• The average annual trading range of the AUD is 11 US cents (see below)

• The AUD hit an all time low of 0.4775 (April 2001), since then it has been as high as 0.8005 (Feb 2004), an increase of more than 67%

• The AUD hit a high this year of 0.7989 (8 March) and a low of 0.7507 (18 January)

• If you work under the assumption of an 11 cents range the low this year could be 0.6900 or the high could be 0.8600

• On an unhedged exposure of US1m, if AUD fell 1 cent it will potentially cost you about $17,000 in income. The equivalent in interest rate terms would be a movement of 1.75% on AUD1m over one year.

“The information herein is believed to be accurate and reliable but no warranty to that effect is given and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, A.B.N. 48 123 123 124, its employees or any other person accepts no liability for any claim in respect of anything and of the consequences of anything done or omitted to be done by any person acting in reliance, whether wholly or partially, upon the contents of this publication. No person shall act on the basis of any information contained herein without considering and if necessary taking appropriate professional advice upon his or her own particular circumstances.”

As from 1 June '05 export legislation covering meat and meat products; dairy; eggs; fish; grains; plant and plant products; fresh fruit and vegetables; and dried fruits have been amended.The new Orders are to give effect to the Government's response to the recommendations made by the National Competition Policy Review of the Export Control Act as far as current developments allow.

They reflect changes to domestic and international legislation such as Australian Standards; the World Trade Organisation's regime for international trade, including Codex standards. They reflect current scientific knowledge and remove unnecessary requirements resulting in legislation that is less prescriptive and more outcome based.

For further information visit the AQIS website www.aqis.gov.au

Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (EFIC) in cooperation with Liberty Mutual Surety has established a US$50 million bonding line to assist Australian SME exporters in the US Government procurement market.

The facility is designed to assist Australian SME exporters overcome difficulties they may experience in securing a bonding line from their banks because of insufficient tangible security and the lack of familiarity by US surety bond issuers with Australian exporters.

Surety bonds are performance guarantees that provide compensation to the buyer if the supplying company does not fill its contractual obligations. The US market is unusual because it typically requires suppliers to post bonds for up to 100% of the contract value for performance obligations particularly in the construction industry compared with 10-15% elsewhere.

Additionally, all surety bonds in the United States must be issued by a licensed company in the state where the work is being performed. EFIC is teaming with a leading US surety writer, Liberty Mutual Surety, an operating division of the Boston based Liberty Mutual Group, who is licensed to write surety bonds in all 50 states.

“EFIC's US$50 million bonding line will clear a path through the complex United States bonding rules and allow Australian exporters to reap the opportunities emerging from the Australia US Free-trade Agreement,” Mr Vaile said.

For all applications or queries about how to apply, contact EFIC on 1800 887 588 or visit their website www.efic.gov.au

Australia has signed Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with the USA, Singapore and Thailand and is negotiating with several other countries. Information about the FTAs can be found at a new website www.fta.gov.au. Ths site is a one-stop online resource and contains a wealth of practical information to help Australian businesses understand and take advantage of FTAs.

On 8 August NSW Department of State and Regional Development is holding a seminar on "Winning with Free Trade Agreements" at Parramatta. The focus will be means by which exporters can use FTAs to their beneifit.

For more information please contact Amit Misra, Export Adviser DSRD on 02 8843 1105.

The Dept of State & Regional Development (DSRD) invites export ready companies in the Environmental technologies and products industry to participate in a Market Visit to Thailand from 4 – 8 July 2005. The Market Visit coincides in ‘Entech Pollutech Asia 2005’ – a major international trade show.

Interested companies should contact Amit Misra, Export Adviser, DSRD on 02 8843 1105 for details on eligibility and other terms and conditions.